For “taxation” at the expense of the middle class and weak citizens, he accused the Mitsotakis government the president of SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance, Alexis Tsipraswhile for his party he said that he does not propose an increase in taxation, as they accuse him, but a reduction in indirect taxes.

“Official data proves that in 2022 the State collected 4.5 billion euros more in costs than the VAT. This is Mitsotakis taxing the middle class for the weak. The Government collected these wonderful expenses precisely to finance the energy companies, the refining companies and the supply chain companies with the various passes. This is filthy lucre and this filthy lucre must be struck down,” said Mr. Tsipras speaking to “Radio Thessaloniki”.

“What Mr. Mitsotakis says, that he has not increased taxes, is a big lie. One of the biggest has been achieved tax drains of recent years”, he noted and added: “This may not be visible to the naked eye, since the tax rates have not increased, but this is exactly what happens, through indirect taxes when we have an inflation that rises and indirect taxes remain constant. When the “household basket” actually goes from 50 to 100 euros, then the tax paid by the citizen is doubled, without necessarily increasing the nominal tax rates”.

The president of SYRIZA-PS responded to the accusations that he will bring taxes, stressing: “Mr. Skertsos, Mr. Mitsotakis come out and they say “Tsipras is coming with taxes. Not with taxes, with taxes”. But it comes with taxes for those who have filthy lucre, who have excess profits. And he comes with proposals to reduce indirect taxation and thus to ease the great social majority”.

He also said that at the end of 2023 the passes will run out, while prices continue to rise and people will be left unprotected.

To a question regarding New Democracy’s accusations that SYRIZA-PS in the prefecture of Rodopi are represented by people who are reported to the Turkish consulate in Komotini, Mr. Tsipras accused “arrogant, hypocritical and dangerous behaviour to Mr. Mitsotakis and underlined: “It has to do with the arrogance and unprecedented arrogance of Mr. Mitsotakis to not tolerate any other color on the electoral map. And he does not hesitate to even play this nationally dangerous card of targeting and dividing Greek citizens, underestimating their democratic behavior. It is unprecedented and unimaginable. It is also dangerous because it divides the local community. It is dangerous because we have fresh memories of a distorted political treatment by previous governments of the country towards our fellow Greek Muslims who triggered behaviors that were dangerous for the stability and well-being of the region. I think it is dangerous, I think it should stop here and I think that in the next period – coordinated as a state – we should proceed with a series of substantial reforms that will improve the quality of life of our fellow citizens of the Muslim minority in Thrace”.